We present a combined study of Ni $K$-edge resonant x-ray scattering and density functional calculations to probe and distinguish electronically driven ordering and lattice distortions in nickelate heterostructures. We demonstrate that due to the low crystal symmetry, contributions from structural distortions can contribute significantly to the energy-dependent Bragg peak intensities of a bond-ordered ${\mathrm{NdNiO}}_3$ reference film. For a ${\mathrm{LaNiO}}_3\text{−}{\mathrm{LaAlO}}_3$ superlattice that exhibits magnetic order, we establish a rigorous upper bound on the bond-order parameter. We thus conclusively confirm predictions of a dominant spin density wave order parameter in metallic nickelates with a quasi-two-dimensional electronic structure.

• Received 12 January 2016
• Revised 2 March 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.93.165121